2015 Ford Falcon Spy Shots

Ford’s final Falcon has been spotted testing in Australia ahead of its market launch in November. Ford Motor Company [NYSE:] has confirmed it is ending production in Australia in late 2016, and with no replacement models planned it means the local Falcon sedan and its Territory SUV derivative will be retired within the next two to three years.

The final Falcon will be an updated version of the current FG Falcon, which has been on sale since 2008 but can trace its roots back to the ungainly AU Falcon launched as far back as 1998. This photo of a prototype, sourced from Carsguide, shows that the front and rear sections of the car are new although most of the sheet metal remains the same.

Expect new lights and bumpers at both ends, and a mesh-pattern grille up front. A previous teaser image revealed that designers have adopted a similar look to that found on Ford’s global models like the Focus and Fusion.

As the car will only have a two-year run, don’t expect any major powertrain updates. This means the base unit should be a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, which will be followed by a locally-developed 4.0-liter straight-six engine in mid-level trim.

A turbocharged version of the 4.0-liter mill may be offered but the top performance option will be a 5.0-liter V-8, most likely with a supercharger attached, in a revived XR8 model. Both force-fed engines were previously offered through in-house tuner FPV, whose operations are being shuttered at the moment. Peak output in the XR8 could be as high as 450 horsepower. Drive in all Falcons go to the rear wheels only, although the Territory SUV offers all-wheel drive as an option.

For more spy shots of the 2015 Falcon, as well as some of its Territory derivative, head over to Carsguide.